Original subtitles

OFFICIAL SELECTION NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL 1960

Downloaded from YTS.MX

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

A SHOCHIKU PRODUCTION

NIGHT AND FOG IN JAPAN

Produced by TOMIO IKEDA

Screenplay by NAGISA OSHIMA TOSHIRO ISHIDO

Cinematography by TAKASHI KAWAMATA

Production Design by KOJI UNO

Music by RIICHIRO MANABE

Edited by KEIICHI URAOKA

Starring

MIYUKI KUWANO MASAHIKO TSUGAWA

АUMIO WATANABE AKIKO KOYAMA

HIROSHI AKUTAGAWA KEI SATO

ROKUHIRO TOURA SHINKO UJIIE

ICHIRO NAGAI KATSUYOSHI KAJIKAWA

I can't think of any harder fight.

Of course, I'm talking about this past June.

We gained something in the fight against ANPO.

Who fought against that treaty? Not only labor organizations and student

Directed by NAGISA OSHIMA Ordinary citizens and so-called "unorganized" people as well.

Store owners, beauticians, hotel employees.

People from all social classes supported our action of June 15th.

Even the school authorities were against that one-sided Diet vote.

They supported the student protesters.

The professors were concerned about the students' safety and visited the site.

I was wounded by police violence myself.

It took me two weeks to recover.

As you can see, this popular movement has closed

the invisible fissure that existed between the students and the professors,

which once put us at odds on every issue.

Now this lamentable barrier no longer separates us.

As if to symbolize the change, this young man Nozawa approached me.

Nozawa used to pick fights with me in his college days.

Now he suddenly asked me to act as go-between for his wedding.

The two of us reflected on the student movement of the past,

how isolated and agitated we were.

We came to share a common view of the current situation.

June 15th marked the beginning of a new post-war era for Japan.

We must overcome 15 years of repeated mistakes.

We believe this is the year we start building our future.

I hear this young couple met during the fight on June 15th.

And now they're Mr. and Mrs. Nozawa.

Their future will be bound to the destiny of the Japanese Race.

I sincerely wish them happiness.

Thank you very much.

Everybody, please help yourselves.

Today I'm here as emcee.

But I hadn't seen Nozawa for a long time

until I ran into him at the anti-ANPO demonstration.

People of our generation are divided into two extremes.

Those who marry early for various reasons.

No matter how you look at it, that doesn't seem like a healthy tendency.

The bride, Miss Hanada, belongs to a younger generation.

I'm certainly envious of Nozawa,

because he can absorb the energy of the current, living student movement,

he has the potential to reach beyond our generation.

Some of us didn't make it through alive.

Enough somber speeches from us older guests.

Let's begin the festivities with speeches from our younger guests.

Now, Miss Saito, please. She's a friend of the bride.

First of all, congratulations.

I'm going to use a trite, clichéd word.

But it most accurately expresses how we feel now:

Truly, congratulations.

We fought side by side with Reiko against the Security Treaty.

We sang many songs as we marched arm in arm.

Please allow us to sing one of those songs.

You. Why are you hiding?

I'm not hiding.

Are you a student?

What are you doing?

What's it to you?

I'm here to celebrate a friend's wedding.

That's all.

For that day to come

Make your bodies strong

Listen, young people

Listen, young people

The same old song.

When was it that we began to sing that song every chance we got?

It's a question of philosophy.

It seems that philosophy has nothing to do with our actual tactics.

But that's not the case.

Think of philosophy in general versus the different branches of science.

Recognize if the same principle can be applied universally versus specifically.

Consider Gen Tanabe's work during World War II.

He developed a specious ideology based on a contrived nuclear physics textbook.

They propose an outdated materialism, removed from reality.

They're acting as if nothing has changed in the last century.

We could dismantle their ideas logically and still should be able to.

The fascists may oppress academia, but we can avoid miserable infighting.

Hey, guys.

All your theories are fine, but why not join hands with the others.

Hey, let's get started.

You go ahead yourselves. The Theory Section has just begun.

A few of us improving their theories won't help.

We've got lots of girls coming over from the women's colleges. We can't wait.

Do songs and dance have anything to do with Marxism?

You sing Russian and Swiss folk songs. What's that got to do with the Revolution?

You're impetuous, as always.

Last year when we protested the Subversive Activities Prevention Act

I threw firebombs and you accused me of opportunism.

Now I'm impetuous?

It's time to resolve issues through talks.

Since the Korean War ended, peaceful coexistence...

I know policies have changed.

That's why we're pursuing our research activities.

I hope it doesn't lead you to feel isolated.

Singing together brings unity and solidarity.

Learn the popular sentiment, or there won't be any student movement or revolution.

What do you think about what I said?

You're correct.

I think you're probably right.

Then why don't you say something?

I'm a Party member.

Even if I think they're wrong, I can't break ranks.

It takes great courage not to participate in those things.

I don't like singing and dancing on a gut level, anyway.

Listen, young people

Make your bodies strong

A beautiful mind may one day

Need a strong body to carry it

A day like that will come

Listen, young people

Thank you very much.

Unexpectedly, it was a song from our college days.

- Now, next - - Everyone.

Ota!

Ota, isn't there a warrant out for your arrest?

Yes. He's still wanted for the June 15th action.

It's dangerous for you to show up here.

They'll get me sooner or later anyway.

I went to a protest march today.

Less than 500 showed up.

A hundred times less than the anti-Security Treaty rally.

Reiko, congratulations.

I have a gift for you two.

You got together during the anti-Security Treaty fight.

I'd like to tell the story of how you two met.

They say a female student died!

- Really? - What? Died?

Yet another new truth!

It's been confirmed that one female student has died.

It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but two of our fellow students as well.

A moment of silence in honor of the murdered female student.

No objection!

All rise, please.

Everyone, please take off your hats.

All newspaper reporters, please take off your hats.

Show respect for the dead.

The reporters have taken off their hats.

Cops, too. If you have a heart, take off your helmets.

That's right!

Take off your helmets!

Cops, take off your helmets!

Cops, take off your helmets!

Take them off. Take them off.

So, then.

Only those of us who have humanity shall offer silence.

Silence.

Silence is over.

Protect our way forward

Listen to the students sing

Young friends, stretch your hands

To the shining sun and the blue sky

Don't disturb them with war again

We have our friendship

Not even the atomic bombs can spoil it

There are already 20. 000 of our fellow students

waiting outside the gates of the National Diet Building.

But they're not allowed inside.

We must help our fellow students get inside.

Let's march ahead to the Diet Building.

Protect our way forward

Attack!

Bring down Kishi! Topple the Kishi Cabinet!

Get ahold of yourself.

Are you okay?

I'm sorry I forced you to come.

We don't have time for that.

Please take us to a hospital.

Thank you very much.

You too.

- I'm going back to everybody. - No. You have to stay with Kitami.

If the police come, don't tell them your real names.

I found this earlier.

Thanks.

- I wish you the best. - Thanks.

Does it hurt?

You don't seem too cheerful.

She took me to the protest march.

Just now in June.

Now we ended up like this, so she's feeling bad.

Yeah. Too much sacrifice. I guess.

Even though it was a political victory. We prevented Eisenhower's visit.

But I'm glad I went.

What they're doing is horrible.

It's driving me crazy.

We suffered one death.

Maybe there's a problem with our leaders' policies.

They should review their methods so we don't have casualties.

I'd sacrifice myself,

if that could oust Kishi and stop the Security Treaty.

Don't exert yourself.

I can't sit still.

Calm down.

Public support is growing. I'm sure we can block the Treaty.

Unless some cowardly opportunists sabotage us.

That's not it. Even if they sabotage us...

You're wrong.

We have to watch out for the impetuous ones.

They'll overstate the students' role in it and break our unified front.

Then came June 19th, 12:00 a. m., the voting deadline.

The New Security Treaty passed the Diet by default.

What's wrong?

He's gone.

What?

He got more agitated every day.

He snuck out at night on the 18th when the nurses weren't looking.

He didn't come back at all yesterday.

Nozawa came to visit last night. I asked him to check his apartment.

He said he wasn't there.

Nozawa?

The man from the newspaper.

He said he was going to look for him at school.

He didn't come to school.

- Maybe he was picked up? - No way.

But his wound hasn't healed sufficiently yet.

I'm worried.

He's emotionally excited as well.

- Good evening. - How did it go?

- Thanks for the other day. - Tough times, huh?

I'm out of ideas.

I can't think of where else he might show up.

What's that gotta do with anything?

Do you mean to slander these two?

Slander?

I'm only telling the truth.

Professor, you're simply naive.

I saw you at a protest, didn't I?

You were yelling for us to disperse.

Both of you have distanced yourselves from the June 15th action, in my opinion.

I just can't stand it.

All this leads me to one conclusion:

The two of you have ended up in a contented, conservative place.

Reiko, you too.

Through July and August, as the days went by,

you moved away from us, you didn't take part in our movement.

And what about Kitami? You used to be with him.

He's been missing since 6-15.

What's happened to him?

Where has he disappeared to?

I don't know.

He's nothing to me.

He's just a friend. A classmate.

Wherever he is, it's none of my business.

Is that really so?

Is it, really?

A comrade has disappeared. We fought side by side with him.

And yet you claim it's none of your business?

Is that all right with you?

That day, June 15th.

You dragged him to the protest. And now you...

You've forgotten about a comrade who's disappeared.

You intend to bury yourself in everyday routine, in domestic bliss?

Even if we settle down, we'll remain opposed to the Treaty.

Are you saying we have to stay single as long as there's a political movement?

Don't mix different issues.

I can't forgive you.

You. No, not only you, all of your conspirators.

Remember the mounting public outrage in June?

It was washed away as the protesters dispersed.

Now you're allowing your comrades to slip into obscurity.

I can't forgive you.

From 6/15 to this day

a small number of students have been participating in protests.

What do you have to say to them?

Ota!

Listen to yourself.

You and a few at the vanguard are rushing ahead, ignoring public sentiment.

That attitude of yours is the problem.

You sow dissent in our current struggle and jeopardize our future fight.

Kawasaki, how dare you lecture me!

While we were bleeding at the Diet under the police batons,

you excused yourself from the protest and enjoyed a nap.

We dispersed later in Yurakucho, soaked with rain and covered in mud.

What were you doing then?

You guys are fighting over the movement.

Just like when we were students, right, Nakayama?

You can't help infighting.

Any political movement falls prey to conspirators who struggle for control.

Toura, would you stay out of this?

We may be infighting, but we're not as insidious as you guys were.

Ota.

Let's think about Kitami later, amongst ourselves.

Why don't we celebrate Nozawa and Reiko's marriage tonight?

She says Kitami was no more than a friend.

You have no reason to blame Reiko.

You guys must look for him.

Then it's my turn. I'm one of the bride's best friends.

Please allow me to say a few words.

Reiko and I used to march together, arm in arm.

We were yelling, screaming, running from the police.

Now it's autumn and I suddenly find her wrapped in a white bridal dress.

I consider myself a bad influence.

To see her like this saddens me, as well as shocks me.

She used to say marriage was a cliché, a pointless institution.

She used to say we were all solitary.

Hey. Am I hearing things?

We used to argue all the time.

But now I feel differently.

"Alone together" is much better than "lonely by oneself."

I'd like to congratulate her and wish her the best.

Excuse me. Who are you?

I'm Takao.

Takao?

The sun has set in the west

A long time has passed

Heavily and slowly the time flows

And still the sun does not rise

Look at the eastern sky

It's pitch black

Here comes a messenger from Hell.

Toura, you may be a leading Hegelian philosopher,

but show some respect and behave yourself.

Toura says odd things when he's drunk. He's always been that way.

What if that man really is Takao?

Then he's a ghost.

Mr. and Mrs. Nozawa are leaving now.

That would be the proper thing for their families.

Wait a minute.

I'm not done yet.

Just a word will do. I want to ask everybody.

I want your answer.

A man, a comrade.

Maybe you weren't his girlfriend. Maybe you were just his friend.

How can you pretend not to notice he's disappeared?

How can you settle into a cage called "a family"?

How can you settle down like that, at what cost?

Can we sweep it under the rug?

I saw him outside earlier.

Like me, he probably has something to say.

Is that you, Takumi?

You sent him an invitation?

Of course not.

We haven't heard from him all this time.

How did he get a whiff of this?

This is truly a rare occurrence.

How did you find out about Nozawa's wedding?

I ran into him at a protest. It'd been 10 years. So...

It's been a long time.

It's really been a long time.

Toura, nice to see you so well.

Nakayama. Misako.

And Nozawa, you're formally dressed today.

It's especially nice to see the three of you.

I never forgot.

I'd like to tear you to shreds!

Takumi.

How dare you impersonate Takao and what the hell are you saying?

Take it back.

Professor.

You're wrong.

You're drunk, too?

I think what Takumi is trying to say...

No, I'll say it too.

It's a question of what one person can do to another.

This issue relates to Kitami.

Professor, you probably can't understand this.

You're an academic, after all.

I've changed. So has Toura, who's drunk here tonight.

We've changed our view of humanity.

What the hell did you come here for?

Nakayama.

Let's discuss this openly, at least once, without setting the agenda beforehand.

Didn't you come to celebrate a friend's wedding?

I've come to celebrate. Yes.

Now is the time to tear off each other's masks.

Then we can truly celebrate.

Ota, Kawasaki and everyone else, you should hear us out.

It was almost 10 years ago.

For some reason, it was foggy every night.

Our neighboring country, Korea, was suffering through an endless war.

Freedom and democracy had been given to Japan after the World War II.

But they were about to be swept away as the tide was turning backwards.

We'd decided we had to stop it from happening.

We were taught the only way was to take up arms.

We were students.

We led the fight.

That night, too, the fog was dense.

A spy! A spy!

We caught a spy!

Upstairs!

I heard something funny here, and look what I found.

He stole nothing of monetary value. Only documents.

From the sociology-, history- and the materialism study group.

He's obviously a police spy.

Emergency general meeting.

This concludes the incident report.

Now I ask for opinions on his punishment.

Any ideas?

- I trust the Executive Committee. - No objections.

Chairman, we should appoint a commissioner.

The Chairman should be commissioner.

- I object. - Why's that?

He may only be a petty thief.

The Chairman has already concluded he's a police spy.

If the Chairman is in charge of the commission to -

Takumi, what kind of thief would steal our documents?

Would a thief try to steal from starving students?

Proceed.

Takumi's assertion is entirely wrong.

The government is advancing the Subversive Activities Prevention Act.

They aim to suppress our legitimate student activism.

The other day, we caught an undercover cop.

All over the nation, the cops are investigating the universities.

There have been frequent incidents of spying.

The Special Political Police was disbanded after the war, but now it's resurfaced.

It's American Imperialism and Japanese militarism leading us to death.

That's why we plan a general strike to block the Anti-Subversive Act.

The people are coordinating an elaborate militant action.

The whole nation is working up its morale.

Under these circumstances, Takumi.

How dare you to give voice to such misguided optimism?

That's right.

But your rush to judgment shows you overestimate our strength...

That's true.

You aren't in favor of the Anti-Subversive Act, are you?

Don't be stupid. None of us supports it.

Isn't it obvious we're all fighting for peace.

Then how can he speak with such misguided optimism?

Exactly!

- That's our enemy's logic. - Agreed.

Nozawa, you're mixing different issues.

I agree.

He's only saying we must investigate to determine if this is a spy or a thief.

We need to handle it carefully.

Sakamaki, are you saying we've rushed to judgment?

Even if he's a spy, we can't hold him captive.

The police might use it as a pretext to raid us.

If that happens, we should fight.

He's right!

He's gotta be a spy!

We decided he was a spy.

We locked him up in a storage shed.

On the fifth day, our group was on watch duty.

How's it going?

It's our turn.

Now we can sleep till 3:00.

- How's it going? - How about you?

- How's he doing? - He's stubborn. He won't talk.

Hey, spy.

Thanks for playing a stupid prank.

You've got us students wasting our precious time.

But, listen.

You may be stubborn, but you can't change the course of history.

Our time will come.

We'll throw you in a dungeon and you'll never see the light of day again.

I'm not a spy.

Then why did you steal our documents?

You knew you could make money off them, didn't you?

I knew you students would panic if I stole your papers.

What?

Bastard!

Hit me if you want. Hit me until you're satisfied.

You're childish students. You won't accomplish anything.

Damn you! I'm not a spy.

Then why did you steal our documents?

You expect us to believe you're not a spy?

I'm not a student.

I'm a worker.

If you're in the labor force, you ought to join the fight with us.

Why are you working for the authorities, our common enemy?

Spy or thief, how dare you lecture us!

Let's leave him here.

We'll leave him here until he reforms and comes around to our side.

Nozawa, let's forget about this spy incident.

Don't you think Nakayama is acting like an authoritarian in general?

We can somehow tolerate it, because we share the ideal of socialism.

But others hesitate to join us. They dislike him.

How do you mean?

We need his aggressive power of conviction.

In religion, the choice is either to believe or not to believe.

But we're talking about a political structure.

We shouldn't push people into an either-or situation.

That won't bring together a diverse base of support.

When a few at the vanguard take up the fight, the others will follow.

In order to go to the front lines, you know what the vanguard needs?

They need to be supported by all the people.

Nakayama demands loyalty, or what else.

I can't think of student activism without a theory of organizing.

Hey.

You sure you're not just afraid?

To be honest, I'm not really enthusiastic.

I feel strangely empty and isolated.

Don't back out on us.

- Here you are. - Thanks.

Hasn't he confessed yet?

He hasn't.

He's convinced we're going to lose.

The cops must have indoctrinated him very well.

Mr. Spy, you're Japanese and yet you act as an enemy of Japan.

Don't you see you're selling Japan off to the US?

I saw a strange shadow in the backyard.

It may be my imagination, but...

Should we go take a look? Just in case.

I just came through the yard. I didn't see anyone.

- Takao, let's go. - Yeah.

I'm going with you. It could be dangerous.

I don't like the way Takao stares at Misako.

Misako has fallen head-over-heels for Nozawa.

So I've been telling Takao to give up on her.

Nozawa is better looking, and he's got a silver tongue.

Takumi.

What will become of our movement?

Doesn't look like we can stop the Anti-Subversive Act.

I don't know, either.

It all looks bleak. That's for sure.

It's like we're heading back to the old days.

Isn't there any way to organize ourselves?

It's pointless to guard this guy, who may or may not be a spy.

I sure would like to fight with a much grander vision.

Should we discuss this with Nakayama?

What's the point of talking to such a blockhead?

But listen.

Don't give up on activism and become a nihilist.

There's no future there.

A nihilist?

Oh, hello.

You guys insist on keeping him locked up?

It's the Dorm Committee's decision. We have to follow it.

I understand you guys are upset, however,

won't it cause problems if you keep him too long?

Nozawa fiercely opposed me, though.

Professor, can't you talk to Nakayama about this?

Well, I don't want to act like a housemaster.

The dorm is self-governed. I can't stick my nose into it.

Besides, nobody will listen to me in the current state of militant activism.

We just have to wait for the conscience of the Underground leadership.

He's run away! The spy's run away!

Close the gate!

- Stop! - This way!

We students had taken up arms and rose up.

For months before and after the Bloody May Day riots,

students fought desperately in the cities and in the villages.

Our dream was an independent Japan.

However one after another our comrades were arrested.

One after another our plans failed.

Then one day, suddenly,

an order came from the deep Underground.

They said our policies had been a mistake.

Listen, young people

Make your bodies strong

A beautiful mind may

One day need a strong body

To carry it

A day like that will come

I feel like I've been had.

Nakayama and Nozawa, once militant, now suddenly trying to keep a low-profile.

Dancing with young girls.

I was in jail, awaiting trial for throwing firebombs.

I could never imagine things would be like this.

Are we to lead the masses?

Or are the masses to yank us around?

Which was which?

Either way, both Nakayama and Nozawa are like followers of a religion.

What would happen if they became Ministers of Education?

I can't forgive the reformists and their self-serving changes in policies.

Hey, good evening.

- Any news of Takao? - No, nobody's seen him.

His mother was worried, because he hadn't even written her.

So he's not back home, either.

Where has Takao disappeared to?

I heard a strange rumor today.

Something happened after the spy incident.

The Party guys had an interrogation of Takao.

I heard the same story. They said he let the spy go.

They suspected Takao was a spy himself.

Sakamaki, haven't you heard anything?

I was arrested by the police right after that incident.

You should know about my Party membership.

I once left the Party when they almost split apart in 1950.

They won't let me in on anything important.

An interrogation...

Do they use extreme methods? Like torture?

No way.

Just a harsh interrogation.

I just don't understand Nakayama as a person.

Even a conservative party leader would leave his post if he made a mistake.

Nakayama isn't stepping down.

I hate squatters like him.

I'd rather Takao were shameless like him.

He doesn't drink. He doesn't have fun with girls.

He's brooding and dedicated.

Nozawa and Misako are openly friendly these days.

You think they'll get married?

Who knows.

Nozawa can't afford to, financially.

Nakayama can, though.

Listen, young people

Make your bodies strong

A beautiful mind may

One day need a strong body

To carry it

A day like that will come

For a day like that

Make your bodies strong

Listen, young people

You've been here reading books?

Yeah.

Why?

I'm a bit of a chicken, you know.

I was invited, but I didn't want to attend Nakayama's wedding.

I needed an excuse, so I went out.

Are you drunk?

That doesn't happen often.

Isn't this the first time you've gotten this drunk?

I'll get you some water.

He's not breathing anymore.

Did you find him?

I suddenly felt I didn't want anyone to see him.

I managed to carry him in secret.

Didn't he say anything?

The spy escaped, thanks to the loud buzz.

The rumor was that Takao had pressed the buzzer.

And that he was a spy himself.

Another rumor said the Party conducted an inquiry into him.

A few days passed.

Takao disappeared.

Several months passed.

Then we found his body.

But nobody said anything about Nozawa and Misako?

When the buzzer went off, like Takao, you two weren't there.

So Mr. Takao disappeared after he was suspected of spying.

And then he committed suicide?

- That's right. - You gotta be kidding.

Kitami is not like that.

None of us are making false accusations.

Toura, you're some racketeer.

You enjoy digging up the past. It's sordid.

Hold on.

Who says it's all in the past?

The question is: Who's responsible?

Toura.

It seems you're trying to say you know who pushed the buzzer.

It seems you're saying it was Misako and me.

I didn't do it, though.

Why would I?

One more thing.

If that's what you were thinking at the time.

Why didn't you say so?

Why bring it up now?

Exactly.

The sad truth?

You were in Nakayama's group back then.

You guys had absolute authority and acted as if you never made mistakes.

You guys were backed by the Party, which was backing us.

What choice did we have?

If we had questions or criticisms, we had to suppress them ourselves.

Coward! Your attitude was the problem.

You've been poisoning Japan's reformist movements.

You've kept silent and tolerated mistakes.

No.

There wasn't an atmosphere of free speech back then.

That's just an excuse.

You have no right to say anything.

No, that's wrong.

Even those who've made mistakes in the past have rights.

They've got the right to question,

so long as they wish to avoid mistakes in the future.

And you people have a duty to answer.

Only then can we truly enrich our philosophy.

Why was Takao the only one to suffer such rumors?

Why was he alone held responsible?

Who spread the rumors and why?

These questions have yet to be answered.

- Takao was... - Wait.

You don't know anything.

Nobody blamed him of anything.

He was paranoid. He was weak.

Who has the right to say he was paranoid?

Don't lie about the atmosphere of those days.

Takao was suspicious of us.

I personally think he wanted to force us into a difficult position.

What are you talking about?

He thought Nozawa and I were in love.

He was jealous.

When we heard the buzzer and then heard the spy had run away,

the two of us thought it was Takao's doing.

We thought he was trying to get revenge on us.

Why did you think that?

Can you explain the situation?

You should explain.

Otherwise, you can't prove your innocence.

I'll explain. This is a good opportunity.

A good opportunity?

But later. Not now.

In another place.

Only to those who are concerned.

That's a good idea.

Why can't you talk about it now?

You still can't talk freely even now.

You people are pathetic.

Mr. Takumi said it.

It's just like what he said earlier.

We all have to bear the same future.

So the past must be our shared legacy.

Then we have to hear this.

Even if it might hurt some people?

Don't put on an act!

Takao had sincere affection for you, but you ignored him.

You sucked up to Nozawa and Nakayama, who had power within the movement.

That's all women are good at.

You only love yourself.

You just want to protect yourself.

Misako.

Please tell us everything.

You don't want to hear this.

Takumi and Toura.

We don't need to respond to their provocation.

Please tell me.

I don't see anyone.

Maybe it was my imagination.

Get ahold of yourself.

Where's Mr. Sakamaki?

He's off duty. He's gone to sleep.

I don't like him.

He just pretends to have the theories down.

I hear he doesn't carry much weight in the Party.

Yes, but there are some who agree with him.

He's in league with Takumi.

And with Toura.

Hey, are you leaving?

Yeah.

I'll go take a look around.

He's weird. I have no idea what's on his mind.

He's shaken up. He's scared.

- Because we're holding the spy? - Yeah, that too.

But more than anything, he's scared of taking up arms.

You're not afraid?

Don't be silly.

We have no choice but to take up arms to fight unlawful oppression.

The people are arming themselves surely and steadily.

Takao says some strange things.

Strange things?

No, please. No.

Do you still have the spy locked up?

For the time being, yes.

Wouldn't it be better, if you let him go?

You won't gain anything by keeping him here.

Leave it to us.

We'll take responsibility for locking him up.

He may be nice, but he's no good for anything else.

We didn't let the spy go.

You were always wondering about it. Are you happy now?

I've always had deep respect for the students' passion.

But I've always been critical

of the militant strategy you students chose.

I also heard the so-called armed uprising

provoked a great deal of active discussion among yourselves.

Sometimes it went beyond philosophical argument

and occasionally led to shouting and swearing.

But today, the world has welcomed the age of peaceful coexistence.

You have chosen a moderate approach and work with the masses.

I am happy to see this long-term change of policy.

Student activism won't get anywhere if only a select few participate.

Student activists must excel in their academic study.

Otherwise the movement itself will lose its credibility.

I'd like to share my joy at knowing you've come to this realization.

We've often found ourselves in unfortunate conflicts.

It was as if we were positioned to fight each other.

Now you students and we teachers can work together.

I believe our relationship will be much better.

Some of you plan to get married and start families.

This can be the basis for a continuous, moderate popular activism.

I welcome this new sentiment of yours.

Let's look at marriage.

It's the basic unit of social life. This is an established fact.

Mr. and Mrs. Nakayama are both energetic activists.

I don't think they've had time to relax for the past year.

But this marriage will be a great success, if only it can heal their mental fatigue.

Congratulations.

Listen, young people

Make your bodies strong

A beautiful mind may one day

Need a strong body to carry it

Dear...

What Misako said, is it true?

Or is it a lie?

Which is it?

Nozawa.

I knew you were friendly with Misako.

I always thought something was going on.

How about it?

Was Misako telling the truth?

Nozawa.

What're you afraid of? What're you hiding?

Our friend Takao died alone and in despair.

We rarely have a chance to examine the wounds from the past.

Nozawa.

There's no turning back now.

You must go all the way.

I'll tell you.

What Misako said is true.

However...

I want to tell you what happened afterwards.

It wasn't just once.

We slept together many times and promised to make a future together.

We believed we just had to endure the dark days of poverty.

Then we could hold each other under the bright sun.

At least, that's what I believed.

Her apartment was small and dirty.

We were both freezing.

We made love as if to keep each other warm.

Until... the night of the dance.

Listen, young people

Make your bodies strong

A beautiful mind may

One day need a strong body

To carry it

A day like that will come

For a day like that

Takumi.

You've been to Takao's hometown?

Yeah.

- He wasn't there? - No.

Were you worried?

Of course.

I see. I didn't know that.

I was concerned.

But unlike you. I wasn't consumed by it and I didn't abandon the fight.

Then again, have you ever devoted yourself to the movement?

Frankly, I find that questionable.

Is that your fight?

Yes. At least, we're laying the foundation for our fight.

You don't even try to get involved.

This is it for tonight.

Let's fight with renewed energy tomorrow.

- See you later - Good-bye.

You two. Why don't you come visit my apartment?

- Are you leaving the dorm? - As of tonight.

Now we have to study as hard as the regular students.

My term as chairman is over. It's time to live on my own.

What about you?

I don't have enough money for an apartment.

Can we drop by?

Please do.

Shostakovich is the height of Socialist Realism in music.

I understand he's quite popular in the US as well.

His genius and music attract people, overcoming ideological differences.

You bought a lot of books.

My father sent me money, when I told him I was moving out to study.

What a silly old man.

Good for you.

You've got so many books.

I've read only a few of them.

The policy changed and everyone's back in the classrooms.

It's funny, isn't it?

What's funny?

What about us before?

Does it mean we didn't study anything at all?

That's wrong.

Don't grumble like that. You just need to study a lot from now on.

That's the key.

What about our political activism before?

Was it all pointless, Nakayama?

You don't agree with the new policy of seeking peace through dialogue?

The cease-fire in Korea has changed the world.

I know that.

It's just...

I feel empty and sad. I don't know.

That's because you're not a Party member.

You're unable to trust in solidarity with your comrades on a gut level.

That's the limitation of just being sympathetic to the cause.

Is that it?

Why don't you join the Party?

I'm not forcing you, but...

Good-bye.

Someone will see us.

Don't worry. They all know about us.

I don't like it.

Then come to my room.

I'm going home tonight.

Why?

Everyone's there, aren't they?

If we go in, they'll all go to the library.

They're happy for us.

No, I don't feel good about it.

Why not?

Why not?

You seemed to be enjoying yourself in Nakayama's room.

What do you mean? Are you jealous?

You like him, don't you?

Please.

Why do you say that?

Don't be silly.

- I belong to you. You know that. - Then come with me.

No.

Don't push me.

Wait. Please.

- Let's calm down and talk it over. - Tomorrow, maybe.

- I'll walk you home. - I'm going home alone.

- Why? - Because I want to. Good-bye!

Misako seemed happy in Nakayama's room.

I had nothing to offer her

My room was filthy. My bed was thin and hard.

I had only one set of clothes.

All I had was the fight.

I thought we shared a dream.

Our only hope was in the fight for freedom, independence and democracy.

Socialist Realism?

We sing and dance. How can that stop anything?

The Uchinada US Artillery Range. The Japan-US Security Treaty.

Everything's become a fait accompli.

Do I really belong to the reformist camp?

What do I have left inside me?

FIGHT FOR AN INDEPENDENT JAPAN!

Spy... Revolution...

It's all disappeared.

Songs for Peace? Work with the masses?

CAMPUS RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE

I have nothing left.

It's getting windy.

Blow away.

Blow everything away.

It sounded like they were singing in a different country.

How did I feel?

I felt an overwhelming gloom inside me.

I didn't know what it was.

I didn't want to know what it was.

I graduated. I found work at a newspaper

My friends were getting married one after another

They were burying themselves in a relatively peaceful daily routine.

And yet...

I couldn't find inner peace and my mind kept on wandering.

My heart jumped back to life during the protests against the Security Treaty.

The posthumous criticism of Stalin and the Hungarian Revolution had prompted me

to acknowledge the errors of our student activism.

It filled me with deep regret.

At the same time, it gave me hope that I'd see a rebirth of the movement.

I was unable to take action with my mixed feelings.

I couldn't trust the future or the power of the people.

The fear of yet another loss dragged me down.

And yet I found myself in the middle of the fight.

Don't worry too much.

It's not good for you.

It's all right.

He'll be back soon.

You'd better get well to fight again.

Fight to stop the Security Treaty.

You didn't search for Kitami after that, did you?

- You're wrong. - Okay.

Maybe you looked around once or twice.

That's not true.

That is...

What is it?

Got anything to say for yourself?

You just don't understand.

On that day, the person I used to be 10 years ago was reborn.

You were all covered with blood.

I was also covered with blood. Can't you understand how I felt?

Because of these feelings. I was attracted to Reiko.

Don't make me laugh.

Think about the past 10 years.

You preached a peaceful revolution. You threw firebombs. You gave up.

What's the funniest?

Why did you change policies? Whose orders have you been following?

Cominform's, and they know nothing about Japan.

Who's gathered here?

You're all wrecks and cripples haunted by the ghost of Stalin.

A wedding? What a laugh.

This is a funeral.

Reiko, you mustn't join these dead people.

Ota, Kitami is alive.

I know where he is.

Indeed, he was gone for several months.

I only met him about two weeks ago.

Why didn't you say so earlier?

Let me make it clear.

All your speeches had nothing to do with Kitami.

You guys don't understand him.

- I thought it over. I'm going. - Where?

Isn't it obvious? To the Diet Building.

Don't. Your injuries haven't healed yet.

I just can't sit still. In two hours, it'll be all over.

Why don't you come with me?

This is funny.

You're the one who brought me to the protest.

So what if it hurts a little?

So what if we go?

The Security Treaty will pass.

What are you saying?

You've been active in the movement with that attitude?

But that's the truth.

Miraculously, the whole nation has risen up against it.

And yet, it will pass.

You never told me any of this.

That's because this is the first time you joined our struggle.

I've taken part in many protests since I've been in college.

We did stop Kishi's bill to revise the Police Duties Law.

But on everything else, we've failed.

So I just can't help it when I think about this fight.

I'm afraid we'll end up defeated again.

You always refused to do anything, no matter how much I begged.

So I was glad when you came to the anti-Security Treaty march.

But now you're blindly pushing ahead, without a thought for the outcome.

It's as if we've switched places.

I don't feel I can keep up with you.

I'm going. I have to go.

It's not just me.

I think Ota and Kawasaki and every one else feel the same way.

Do they?

But many people feel like me. They feel the need to block the Treaty.

This simple conviction has led many people.

- I'm going to join them. - No. Please wait.

Why do you stop me?

My college friends had taken part in the sit-in.

They sat there and didn’t move.

It felt like nothing was happening.

Maybe because of that, I didn't feel like joining them.

I was far too agitated.

I wandered around, aimlessly.

There were numerous people like me.

We felt something had to happen to prevent the Treaty from passing by default.

But... time ignored our wish.

I heard the clock strike midnight.

There was an odd silence.

I looked at the people around me.

What were we supposed to do?

"What should I do?" I wanted to ask them.

Remember when the Socialist Party announced it'd accept the Treaty?

I only felt helpless.

In a surge of panic. I tried to remember the faces of Reiko, you and Ota.

I wanted to confirm where I stood.

It didn't work.

I felt no connection to Reiko or you.

To any one at the protest.

I felt it was all stupid.

Listen, Kitami.

You felt stupid? You felt isolated?

Every one felt the same lack of conviction.

It's not something special you alone felt.

Here's the problem.

You bluntly state that it was stupid.

A lot of people were afraid nothing might come of it.

And yet they pushed themselves to stay active in the movement.

You're discouraging them.

That has nothing to do with me.

What I'm trying to say is:

You all said you were risking your lives to stop the Security Treaty.

Now I'm wondering if you really meant it.

I don't want to be like you.

I don't want to speak only of a sense of defeat.

You went to the protest once.

And what do you expect?

You wanted everything to turn out the way you wished.

I think that's extremely spoiled, childish thinking.

Of course, I didn't feel victorious.

But at the same time. I didn't feel defeated or like a failure.

I can't go to a protest feeling that way.

I can't blame Reiko alone for this issue with Kitami.

It's the false policy of our leadership.

Not only did we lose one person's life.

Kitami was an idealistic young man. He was disillusioned...

Kawasaki, let me ask you then.

Why did Kitami join our protest?

Why did he support the policy to prioritize academic work?

The masses are weak. The struggle has a long way to go.

"Thank you. That's it for today."

That's your usual way.

The same goes for the party establishment behind it.

You 're no longer reformists.

But it's not like Kitami supports you completely.

He just needs a place to vent his pent up anger.

He simply chooses your protests to do so.

He's not interested in Trotskyism or a World Revolution.

Then let me ask you this.

You weren't able to convince Kitami. Where do you see your place in that?

Why didn't you join the protest today?

What kind of vision have you got to replace our cause?

- I don't have one. - Then how dare you!

You 're arrogant to make such a statement.

Let's look at the obvious.

There was a nationwide protest against the Security Treaty.

It'll clearly bring a qualitative shift to the mass movement in Japan.

This leads to an issue for the future.

Now that we have this heightened participation of the people.

Which is, in a way, exemplified by Kitami.

The problem is obviously how to incorporate it into the movement.

Our unity and solidarity will surely present a solution to this problem.

The private lives of the bride and groom have been exposed today.

But that shouldn't discourage the two of you.

I hope it rather serves to strengthen your bond.

Nakayama.

As always, you're good at faking it and glossing over the issues.

We haven't solved a single issue that's caused confusion at this wedding.

How can you build a unified front, if you don't deal with conflicting ideas?

It'd only crumble in an instant.

We need true unity, true solidarity.

We need to expose our deepest scars and pains to each other.

You're trying to evade responsibility in the name of unity and solidarity.

You haven't changed since you pushed Takao to his death.

There you are.

What have I been doing with my life?

What should I do in the future?

Could it be...

Maybe it's just one big illusion.

Armed struggle then. Peaceful coexistence now.

Different strategies, the same leadership.

Nakayama has taken the same position, following the leaders.

But, Takao, listen. We don't live in an illusion.

But where does this sense of powerlessness come from then?

I too wanted to march cheerfully hand in hand with everyone.

You wanted to?

Did Nakayama say anything to you about that spy incident?

I don't want to talk about it.

I don't want to say anything anymore.

Rise up, downtrodden of this world

Rise up, you starving and enslaved

He's out of control.

Maybe the policy change got to him, too.

No way.

They're happy people.

They never reflect on themselves.

Those bastards pretend to be the mainstream of the moment.

They only poison society.

I'll get them one day.

Get them?

I have to fantasize, or I can't bear it.

We're facing a thick wall.

I feel like I'm done.

The delusion of despair. Same as the delusion of hope.

The sun has set in the west

A long time has passed

Heavily and slowly the time flows

Still the sun does not rise

Look at the eastern sky

It's pitch black

That song was the last time I heard his voice.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR TAKAO HOSTED BY DORM COMMITTEE

That's right.

He was isolated.

He once said:

"Lu Xun the writer said:

'I despair, therefore I exist.'"

He always had a modernist bent.

He viewed Lu Xun through modernist eyes.

Study Lu Xun carefully, though.

In a way, he was an Oriental nihilist.

Takao decided he couldn't ignore that.

He wasn't a modernist.

Leave that to bourgeois writers.

Lu Xun was a revolutionary writer.

I have something to say.

He suddenly yearned for death after that incident.

What?

The rumor that Takao helped the spy escape.

Don't deny it!

Hey, Nakayama.

And Mrs. Nakayama as well.

Nozawa.

Why didn't you try to squelch that stupid rumor?

I...

- I didn't say anything. - Liar!

By remaining silent, you endorsed the rumor.

Takumi, what're you saying?

Do you wish to cast false accusations and create rifts among our comrades?

Do you wish to slander us?

Listen, every one. What do you think?

Isn't it blindingly obvious who killed Takao?

Wasn't it the US and Japanese reactionaries that killed Takao?

Takao was killed at the hands of the Imperialists.

Look at the peace movement swelling around the world.

The US-Japan reactionaries are isolated and growing violent.

More than ever, they're oppressing the Japanese people.

This forces the young people to live in poverty, without hope.

That's what drove Takao to death.

He couldn't bear it.

We must mourn for Takao deeply.

We must overcome his weakness.

We must march toward a brighter future.

Now look at us.

Takumi has abandoned the large scale vision.

He's blaming us for Takao's precious sacrifice.

He's trying to drive a wedge into our comrades' unity.

Listen, everyone.

Do you really think we're even remotely responsible for this tragedy?

We don't think so.

Takumi is a provocateur, a good-for-nothing student who's lost sight of the enemy.

That's right.

Shut up, Takumi.

Nakayama, why do you incite people like that?

That sort of instigation snuffs out the voice of truth deep in our hearts.

You lack political sincerity, the desire to listen to the whole truth.

We've always proposed viewing the facts honestly.

Here's Takao's suicide note.

Professor, didn't you see a stranger out there?

No, I only saw Nozawa and Misako out there.

Are you watching the spy, too?

We're calling him "spy," "spy," but...

You don't think he's a spy?

They say, "See a ghost. Look close. It's a dead flower."

I don't think he's a spy. - You sound quite certain.

Maybe the others are thinking of the "just in case" scenario.

Do you think he's a spy, Professor?

I just don't know.

I'd like to think I can leave it to your sound judgment.

I just had a thought.

What if you take custody of the man we caught?

What if you have him swear an oath never to do this again, and release him?

I see.

That's an idea.

Let me go!

Let go. I'm not a spy. Let go.

I see. You're not that strong, and he was probably desperate.

But, Takao, why didn't you fight as desperately as he did?

Is it because you yourself doubted he was a spy?

Yeah.

The enemy can sense your doubt and take advantage.

Exactly.

That's a petit bourgeois philosophy.

You used to be a faithful Party supporter. Now you've fallen to the enemy's side.

Not only that, speaking strictly about the way you acted in this spy incident.

You have no excuse, if you're suspected of being a spy.

But, Nakayama, listen.

On what basis did you determine that boy was a spy?

Takao, do you still have doubts?

Doubts about our judgment, doubts about our unanimous conclusion?

You still disagree with us?

If so, you're clearly an enemy spy.

We demand of you a thorough self-critique in front of the Party and the People.

Write how your misguided thinking led to your downfall and you became an enemy spy.

It'd be a valuable lesson and moral for our movement.

If you dare to refuse, you're an enemy spy, an Imperialist agent.

And we'll have no choice but to do away with you.

Think it over carefully.

Nobody took his side.

I was the closest to him, yet I didn't have the power to save him.

Nobody knows what happened to the young man who was called a spy.

But what if he wasn't a spy?

Then we'd driven a friend to death for no reason.

We'd deeply hurt a young man.

I ask you people to keep an eye on Kitami for the time being.

Takumi.

You're unjustly exaggerating only one side of the facts.

Let me make it clear.

Let's just say Takao truly believed he was right.

Why didn't he insist on it?

Why didn't he risk his life to stand up against us?

I've suffered a lot of criticism and lived through it.

But I've never lost sight of the ultimate goal of our revolution.

That's it.

Maybe back then, Nakayama and I, both of us were wrong.

But we'd thrown ourselves wholly into the movement.

Can I be blunt, Takumi?

You've been talking a lot.

But you've always been on the periphery of our movement.

Always on the fringe, never getting hurt.

Yet you dare to criticize us. Aren't you a hoodlum?

Shut up!

When will you ever give up your overbearing, high-and-mighty attitude?

Let me ask you about the movement you guys led.

Was there any theory in it? A small bit of reason?

You've never lost sight of your goal? Don't make me laugh.

I don't need to listen to your religious confession.

Even dogs don't lose sight of their food.

We could have risked our lives and stood up against you.

But were there any words you'd have listened to?

You can make as many excuses as you want.

But there was a special territory that we could never enter.

You just sat back and relaxed in there and watched Takao fall apart.

You then settled into a lazy domestic bliss.

Domestic bliss?

Don't make me laugh.

You have no idea how banal, how phony, our life was.

On June 15th, our protest broke up early.

We went home and watched TV.

The students were fighting and getting wounded.

My heart was filled with pain and I couldn't sleep.

"Wasn't it a mistake we left?"

I asked him, but he didn't answer.

You know what he did? He wanted my body.

He refuses to recognize other people have character.

And this man called himself a reformist, a leader.

I'd been thinking about leaving him. That night, I made up my mind.

Toura.

I didn't waste my time living with a tyrant.

You're saying you have character, after all?

If that were the case, Takao wouldn't have died.

Toura.

Misako is telling the truth.

That June 15th was a sad day for me, too.

I could no longer see Nakayama as part of the vanguard.

This isn't coming from a cynical hoodlum on the periphery of the movement.

I'm saying this after years on the frontline getting wounded.

I have to agree.

Remember when the police attacked us teachers?

I realized we, the institutional vanguard, could no longer carry out its task.

It was a painful realization, but I had to accept the fact.

That's right.

But yelling at this man is pointless.

It's not getting us anywhere. I think it's an absolute waste of time.

Takumi, why are you only talking about the past?

You know what we need at this moment?

Shouldn't we destroy Nakayama completely?

Listen, Ota.

I respect your action on the 15th in many ways.

But here's the thing.

Who's in control of the workers' organizations

and who can possibly expand their power?

It's the Party, and that includes Nakayama and these men.

That's why we're pushing Nakayama to take responsibility.

Unless we force that huge organization to reform itself internally...

Too easy. That's wishful thinking.

Think about their shabby treatment of the victims of the 15th.

Was that the attitude of people fighting for a revolution?

Do you think they have even the slightest regret?

Ota.

We should talk about Kitami more than anything else now.

We do have a grand vision.

But before we talk about that, we have to solve small problems one at a time.

Where are you going?

- Where are you going? - I'm going to Kitami.

- But you can't suddenly... - Police! Run!

Run! Cops!

- Don't be cruel! - Stop the violence!

Protect our way forward

Protect our way forward

Listen to the students sing

Let's go, everyone.

Let's tell every one Ota was arrested.

Okay, but then what?

Let's go, anyway.

Kawasaki, come with us.

Let's not repeat the bloodshed of the 15th.

Kawasaki, you should stay here.

They're always resisting our control and running reckless protests.

If they get arrested, it's what they deserve.

We're not responsible for them.

They have no realistic prospects.

They destroy the labor organizations and our united front.

They're ecstatic, because the public makes a fuss.

They've forgotten they have no productive, real-life value of their own.

They let their impetus go to their heads.

They gather together because they're powerless.

They're like cornered rats, forced into increasingly showy yet ineffective acts.

Ota, who was taken away just now, represents them.

That's the true nature of a handful of students.

I don't reject student activism as a whole.

But students do not reside within the economic structure.

The movement itself is focused on the labor force.

Obviously the student activists must be subservient to the labor movement.

The students don't have their own means of livelihood.

Thus they can't help being petit bourgeois in their thinking.

They need to join the unified front under the labor force.

Only then can they stand on the front line of the revolution.

A few students refuse to join.

They're miserable clowns working for the enemy's benefit.

Takumi.

Toura.

And Sakamaki.

You've been supporting the students' far-left ideology.

You've been casting arbitrary, unproductive criticism at us.

You're only pleasing our enemies.

You've been led astray by social trends.

You fight us without thinking. You've lost sight of the enemy.

You used to manage to be barely righteous.

The same goes for Professor Utagawa. Mark my words.

You're disrupting the unified front for a moment of excitement.

You're breaking ranks. You're enemies of the people.

Such misguided actions will lead to numerous casualties and dropouts.

We won't be held responsible.

We must eliminate such provocateurs.

We need true unity.

We need true solidarity. We must build it from within.

Unity and solidarity.

Only unity and solidarity guarantee our eventual victory.

THE END